Residents of Serere district have raised concerns about the increasing strangling and stabbing of community members in the district. The increased heinous acts have led to the deaths of several community members, while others are left in a life-threatening state amidst financial challenges that are pressing the people.
During a phone interview with Matthew Emeru, the Local Council I Chairperson (LCI) said that one of the victims, identified as Betty Ayango, a 45-year-old mother of three children, was found dead in Kakusi ward, Serere town council, Serere district, on July 27, 2024.
Emeru added that Ayango was at the time of her death staying with the one Olila, who happened to be sharing a house with her landlord, identified as Alfred Engolu, which had one entry and different rooms.
’’Ever since I became the Chairperson of Local Council I, there have been several cases of death of the same nature where the community wakes up in the morning and finds a person dead, and it happens almost everywhere in the district,’’ Emeru.
According to Edson Obukulem, the East Kyoga Police Spokesperson, the people in Serere upper shops—Akudam cell in Kakusi ward—and Serere town council found Ayango, strangled to death by the unknown people. He, however, said that her boyfriend and their friend were taken to the police to help in investigations.
David Oluka, Joyce Mary Iwon’s father, said that his daughter was also strangled late at night when they were sleeping. He added that he discovered her lying dead when he had gone to wake them up to accompany him to collect white ants.
’’On Friday morning, July 12, 2024, at around 1 am, I woke to go and pick up white ants. I went to wake up my daughters to go with me only to find one of my daughters identified as Joyce Mary Iwon, aged 16 years in primary six dead. She was studying at Idupa Primary School. At that moment, my brother’s wife told me that she saw someone putting on a red trouser running out of the girl’s house; we tried to follow but in vain. We then raised an alarm that pulled the community, and when the police came, they confirmed the girl was strangled using a rope,’’ Oluka said.
Jackson Ewatu acknowledged that Iwon was strangled to death in their home in Idupa village, Oburin, Olio, by one Anthony Joseph Ekoku from Amakio village, who was apprehended by the police and is currently in custody.
Additionally, Eng. Martin Onguruco, the Serere LCV aspirant, expressed the outcry in the communities of Serere district, citing cases that have been continuously happening. For instance;
Onguruco said that in Ojengamwili-Sapiri cell, Kangodo ward, Kyere sub-county, Serere district, David Ewotu’s daughter, identified as Scovia Apio (Senior three), was also strangled to death on June 12, 2024, and the suspect was apprehended; however, he was released under unclear circumstances.
He further revealed that in Amakio, Olio county, a teacher was stabbed nearly to death on July 19, 2024, but was rushed to Serere Main Hospital for surgery and is currently nursing serious injuries with uncleared bills.
Onguruco noted that another incident occurred in Obulai, Akoboi, Olio county, where a group of thugs on July 23, 2024, burned people’s houses, including that of the church leader, and shops in the area where they robbed an unspecified amount of money.
The widening insecurity threat of killings in Serere district has left the communities in fear of their lives, which is lowering the progress of the people in all aspects of life.
